DictionarycareenTilting a ship
verb

careen

Tilt a ship onto its side for cleaning or repairs.

The crew careens the ship to scrape barnacles off its hull.

Etymology

Latin carina means keel. Careening turns a ship so its underside can be reached, connecting the keel with the practical work of cleaning or repairing the hull.

More examples

  • Workers careen the fishing boat on the beach for repairs.
  • They careened the vessel to patch a leak below the waterline.
  • Careening the ship exposes the damaged planks along its bottom.

Forms

careen · careens · careened · careening

keel noun — Main structural beam along a ship's bottom.

Similar words

heel
Means lean to one side, not necessarily for maintenance.
tilt
Means move into a sloping position, without specifying purpose.